Hume Weir Motor Racing Circuit
The Hume Weir Motor Racing Circuit is a now disused motorsport track built on the Victorian side of the Murray River at Lake Hume near Albury-Wodonga in Australia.
 | |
| Location | Lake Hume, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT +10 |
| Coordinates | 36°06′50″S 147°00′50″E |
| Opened | 2 November 1959 |
| Closed | 27 March 1977 |
| Major events | Australian Formula 2 Championship Australian Sports Car Championship |
| 1960-77 circuit | |
| Length | 1.6 km (1.0 mi) |
| Race lap record | 42.7 (Alfredo Costanzo, , 1975) |
| 1959-60 circuit | |
| Length | 1.29 km (0.8 mi) |
History
The circuit was built in a disused quarry left over from the construction of the Hume Weir, which had taken place between 1919 and 1931.
The opening race meeting was held on 2 November 1959.[1] [2] Originally 1.28 km in length, the track was extended to 1.6 km in 1960 and was sealed in the same year.[1]
The final meeting was staged on 27 March 1977.[1] The lap record, set by Alfredo Costanzo driving a Birrana, stands at 42.7 seconds.[1] It was established during the third round of the 1975 Australian Formula 2 Championship on 15 June 1975.[3]
Alpine Rally
After the final race meeting in 1977, the circuit continued to be used for stages of the Alpine Rally during the 1980s and possibly the early 1990s.[4]
Today
The circuit has been in a state of disrepair for many years.[5] Further damage was caused to the circuit in the mid-2000s by construction work on the nearby dam wall which had been undertaken due to concern that the wall may be moving.[4]
Major races
| Race | Date | Winning driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 Australian Formula 2 Championship (Round 1) | 3 June | Leo Geoghegan | Birrana 272 Ford |
| 1974 Australian Formula 2 Championship (Round 1) | 16 June | Leo Geoghegan | Birrana 274 Ford |
| 1975 Australian Formula 2 Championship (Round 3) | 15 June | Alfredo Costanzo | Birrana 274 Ford |
| 1976 Australian Formula 2 Championship (Round 2) | 13 June | Peter Larner | Elfin 700 |
| 1976 Australian Sports Car Championship (Round 4) | 26 September | Alan Hamilton | Porsche Turbo |
References
- Pedr Davis, The Macquarie Dictionary of Motoring, page 226
- Albury Motor Races, Australian Motor Sports, November 1959, page 451
- Australian Competition Yearbook, 1976 Edition, page 155
- AUTOSPORT Bulletin Board
- "The Tasman Series 1964-69: Hume Weir". Archived from the original on 2 May 2009.
- Hume Weir Motor Racing Circuit at Flickr